Stacked Swing?

[allin]

I was at the bookstore with my daughter and wandered over to magazines while I waited for her. I read the latest Golf Digest article while I was there. It spoke about the method Aaron Badderly and some others are using called a stacked swing. Usually I can figure out what is being addressed by articles but I need an interpreter for this one. It sounded like a recipe for a bad back to me. Of course they made it sound like this was the swing for everyone, but this sounded like a swing method which requires a lot of lower body strength and superior athletic ability to me. What do others out there think?

[Wass]

I was reading this article also, and I found it a bit confusing. It seems like they were telling you to do a reverse pivot at the top of your swing, because it tells you to keep the weight on your front foot throughout, and tilt to your left on the backswing (for righties). I don't think it's something I'm going to try in the near future. Unless if I'm desperate

[Mikey]

I can tell you I just got the magazine yesterday and went to the range today and I was absolutely smoking the ball using the stacked swing. I could not really tell you if it improved the distance because the wind was blowing but I can tell you the ball was coming of the clubface very and I mean very solid.

It feels weird because it goes against everything that you have been taught but the one thing I missed was keeping the right elbow tight so I did spray a couple but the ones I did felt really good.

I am not sure if I will continue to use it but I am going to try it a couple more times at the range.

[Wass]

I can tell you I just got the magazine yesterday and went to the range today and I was absolutely smoking the ball using the stacked swing. I could not really tell you if it improved the distance because the wind was blowing but I can tell you the ball was coming of the clubface very and I mean very solid.

Is it more of a reverse pivot swing, because it seems like that's what it was describing.

[Mikey]

I guess it is kinda like a reverse pivot but it looks like Villegas swing which I think is one of their students.

I does eliminate the fat shot as far as I can tell. Like I said I am not sure I will be using it but I was cracking the ball.

[babywax]

Is it more of a reverse pivot swing, because it seems like that's what it was describing.

You could say it is, but it isn't really. The weight at the top of the swing is on the front foot, but I wouldn't call it a reverse pivot because it never goes to the back foot. A reverse pivot would imply that instead of the weight going to the back foot in the backswing, it goes to the front, and then in the afterswing you would finish with your weight on your back leg. The reason this isn't a reverse pivot in my opinion is because you finish with your weight on your front foot.

[supercow]

I accidentally came across this type of swing a while back while 'experimenting' at the range. I just didn't realise that other people had actually named the theory! The only problem that I had with swinging this way was getting a sore right foot. For the most part though, I agree that it is much simpler (and is therefore easier to repeat) than present theory which seems to create two pivot points (around the right knee and then the left knee).

[Mikey]

just a quick update while using this swing I seem to hit my irons pretty solid but I struggle with my driver.

Also, beware my lower back was killing me the next day.

[Sharkgolf]

Gentlemen - thanks for pointing me in the direction of the Stack & Tilt swing. I searched a few sites and was taken through the Baddeley swing in Golfdigest.com......then yesterday, off to the range full of skepticism for something which seems a little gimmicky. Lo & behold, brothers of ballflight!!!! This swing produces the crispest contact I have felt off my irons in ages!! Because your "center" is guaranteed to be ahead of the ball at impact with this technique, your trajectory is lower than usual, and after only 6 or 7 shots I was also producing a straight shot. Along came a flexible 17 year old, I showed him the swing - and then we played 14 holes, and the young fella had adopted the Stack & Tilt for his 3 iron tee shots on a pair of our really tight tee shots - he is 5 hcp and claims he now has his "safe shot" in the bag. That's the feeling you get....a lot less body shift...a kind of guarantee of straight....it's not for my woods though, yet.

[Mikey]

I still have been able to hit a good driver but the more I experiment with this golf swing the more I like it.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

I also saw this in Golf Digest. It was a bit hard to follow, I think mainly because it does seem to go against other articles I've read. Don't think I'll be giving this one a shot, although if taught properly I think it would help me. But it seems to be something that has to be professionally taught or you could develop some other bad habbits.

[niblick]

I read this article and saw that the move through impact is something I already do without thinking, so I decided to give this a shot.

Holy crap.

What a difference in contact! I still missed plenty of shots, but even on my first bucket I hit more flush shots than normal, and they even sound different. Shots had a lower trajectory (a good thing for me), and definitely went longer. I airmailed the range fence with a 3 wood, which is something I've never done before.

It's not magic - you still have to hit good golf shots, but for me at least, it's a move that produces better contact than the one I've been practicing for years. It's got some positions that will take alot of getting used to, but I'm not afraid of putting in the work.... we'll see what happens to the handicap.

[$2 Nassau]

As Mikey mentioned, I have tinkered with this swing as well and have found good results. Hitting the ball very pure, and have actually gained some distance with irons. Accuracy is what has improved the most though, I can get into a groove and just pound balls to a spot out in the range, something I have NEVER been able to do.

I don't think I'm fully diving in to all the techniques used in this swing, but I'm certainly using some of them. Namely, starting with approx 60% of my weight on my front foot with all my irons and fairway woods. (used to just do it with wedges). Also, trying to stay centered over the ball throughout the swing, which has helped me greatly as I tend to "sway" during the weight transfer. I'm not doing the full "reverse pivot finish" thing at the end of the swing though...just feels too strange.

It creates a very simplified swing that seems to be repeatable and reliable. I'm playing tomorrow and I think I'm going to take this to the course(the true test). With the struggles I have been having with my game lately it's certainly worth experimenting with.

Haven't tried it with my driver swing yet, just can't seem to bring myself to commit to it when I address the ball and always revert back to my old swing/setup.

I think there are some ideas in that article that can certainly help people, you don't have to completely change your swing...but maybe take away a few things and put them to work for you.

We'll see.....

[$2 Nassau]

Oh, and Mikey...right there with you on the sore back. Different swing = different muscles being used, hopefully it will subside.

[nj21]

Would just straightening your right leg during the backswing do the same thing?

[Mikey]

I am really digging this swing with the irons and my back is hurting less and less. The one thing I have to eliminate is overswinging because you build up so much torque you feel like you are swing hard.

I am still missing a couple of shots but for the most part my shots have been consistent and I have gained some distance.

[$2 Nassau]

My round was rained out this afternoon.

Project Stacked Swing will have to wait for another day.

[nj21]

Well I just got back from the driving range. I found out that just straightening the right leg on the backswing doesn't really work with the irons. But with the woods if the only thing I do is straighten the right leg on the backswing and don't have that much tilt, I hit the ball straight with my driver and woods.